Portend-Pretend | Commonly Confused Words

Portend

/pɔːˈtend/

To give a warning or sign that something is going to happen, usually something bad

Dark clouds portend an impending storm.Economic indicators portend market volatility ahead.Rapid changes in behavior can portend deeper issues.

/prɪˈtend/

To act as if something is true when it is not true

'Was not it, too!' returned Bella, pretending to pout.Miriam pretended surprise.And she pretends to be tough so she won't get hurt."

Portend is about predicting the future or suggesting whats likely to happen, while pretend is about acting as if something is true when it isnt.
Remember portend as something pointing towards the future, as port suggests the starting point.
Think of pretend as part of pretending or acting, as it shares the letters pret with impersonate.
Portend is often serious, suggesting a sign or omen, while pretend is usually playful or deceptive.
Pretend often takes you into a world of imagination or falsehood, unlike portend, which deals with anticipation.